To authorize the Michigan Department of Education to spend money to implement "Common Core" curriculum promoted by an entity associated with the National Governors Association, subject to various restrictions and conditions. The Senate adopted the measure with fewer restrictions in an unrecorded voice vote.

House Bill 4787, Increase CON health facility rationing fees: Passed 82 to 26 in the House on September 12, 2013

To increase the fees imposed under a state “Certificate of Need” rationing regime, which mandates that health care providers must get government permission to open or expand a facility, or add certain capital-intensive equipment (like MRIs). The fee hikes for different types of permission requests submitted to a board comprised primarily of incumbent providers range from $500 to $12,000.

House Bill 4952, Halt unemployment benefits for failed drug test: Passed 82 to 24 in the House on September 26, 2013

To make a person ineligible to collect unemployment benefits if a prospective employer requires a drug test as a condition of a job offer and the individual either refuses to take the test or fails it.

House Bill 4770, Restrict accident-related commercial solicitations (“ambulance chasing”): Passed 98 to 10 in the House on October 9, 2013

To restrict public access to vehicle accident reports for 30 days after the crash by requiring outside parties who want the report to file a statement that they will not use it for commercial solicitation ("ambulance chasing"), subject to a $15,000 fine for violations. The original bill's attempt to limit access by defining "journalist" was removed.

House Bill 4688, Repeal licensure mandates for dietitians and nutritionists: Passed 71 to 39 in the House on November 13, 2013

To repeal a law that imposes a licensure mandate on dietitians and nutritionists. The mandate has not been enforced since it was authorized in 2006 because the state licensure agency was unable to devise acceptable credentialing and education requirements.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

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